Marathons in France 2026: Routes, Dates & Elevation Profiles

France is home to 29 marathons in our database, spread across cities including Annecy, Biarritz, Caen, and Cap-Ferret, and more.

Paris Marathon is the largest race in the lineup, typically drawing around 54,000 finishers, while the full spread offers everything from fast urban courses to scenic regional events.

Below are the largest races in the country; browse by region for the full list.

Browse the races below for course maps, elevation profiles, typical weather, and practical race-day detail to help you choose your next start line.

ParisÎle-de-FranceFrance

Paris Marathon

The Paris Marathon is one of the world's largest marathons, drawing approximately 54k finishers on an urban road in Paris, France. The course starts on the Champs-Élysées near the Arc de Triomphe and finishes on Avenue Foch. The route passes Place de la Bastille, Notre-Dame, the Louvre, and the Bois de Vincennes. Mostly flat with gentle undulations; no major hills or cobblestone sections.

Next race: Sunday, 4 April 2027

NiceProvence-Alpes-Côte d'AzurFrance

Marathon des Alpes-Maritimes Nice-Cannes

The Marathon des Alpes-Maritimes Nice-Cannes is a spectacular point-to-point along the French Riviera, drawing about 6,500 runners each November from Nice to Cannes. The course follows the Moyenne Corniche and coastal roads with Mediterranean views, passing Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat and Antibes. It is one of Europe's most scenic coastal marathons.

Next race: Sunday, 8 November 2026

PauillacNouvelle-AquitaineFrance

Marathon du Medoc

The Marathon du Medoc draws approximately 6,000 finishers each September on a wine-country road in Pauillac, France. The race is famous worldwide for combining marathon distance with costume culture and wine-country spectacle. The course passes vineyards, chateaux, and wine villages throughout the Medoc region. Gentle undulations are the only breaks on an otherwise flat profile.

Next race: Sunday, 5 September 2027

RennesBrittanyFrance

Marathon Vert Rennes

The Marathon Vert Rennes is Brittany's largest marathon, drawing about 6,000 finishers each October through the regional capital. The course passes the Parlement de Bretagne, Thabor Park, and the Vilaine River on rolling Breton terrain. October autumn weather and a green, park-filled route justify the 'Vert' (green) name.

Next race: Sunday, 18 October 2026

NantesPays de la LoireFrance

Marathon de Nantes

The Marathon de Nantes attracts about 5,000 finishers each November through western France's largest city. The course passes the Château des Ducs de Bretagne, the Loire River, and the Île de Nantes district on flat Atlantic-coast terrain. November crisp weather and a historic city-centre route make it the Loire-Atlantique's premier marathon.

Next race: Sunday, 8 November 2026

Villefranche-sur-SaoneAuvergne-Rhône-AlpesFrance

Marathon du Beaujolais

The Marathon du Beaujolais draws approximately 4,000 finishers each November on a wine-country road in Villefranche-sur-Saone, France. It is one of France's most theatrical marathons, famous for costumes, music, and Beaujolais hospitality. The route passes vineyards, Beaujolais villages, chateaux, and festive wine-country aid stations. Rolling terrain with moderate climbs shapes the middle miles.

Next race: Saturday, 21 November 2026

StrasbourgGrand EstFrance

Strasbourg Marathon

The Strasbourg Marathon attracts approximately 4,000 finishers each May through the capital of Alsace at the Rhine border. The course passes the Gothic Strasbourg Cathedral, the Petite France canals, and the European Parliament district on flat Alsatian terrain. May's spring weather in the 'Capital of Europe' makes it one of France's most internationally flavoured marathons.

Next race: Sunday, 23 May 2027

La RochelleNouvelle-AquitaineFrance

Marathon de La Rochelle

The Marathon de La Rochelle follows the Atlantic coast of Charente-Maritime, drawing about 3,500 runners each November through the historic harbour city. The course passes the Vieux Port, the Les Minimes marina, and the flat coastal roads of the Rochefort peninsula approach. November mild Atlantic weather and sea views make it a popular western France marathon.

Next race: Sunday, 22 November 2026

AnnecyAuvergne-Rhône-AlpesFrance

Marathon du Lac d'Annecy

The Marathon du Lac d'Annecy runs around one of Europe's cleanest alpine lakes, attracting about 3,500 runners each April. The course offers turquoise lake views, alpine peaks, and the medieval Annecy old town. April mountain-lake weather and a largely flat lakeside path make it one of France's most beautiful marathons.

Next race: Sunday, 11 April 2027

ToulouseOccitanieFrance

Toulouse Marathon

The Toulouse Marathon draws approximately 3,500 finishers each October through the 'Pink City' of southwest France. The course passes the Capitole de Toulouse, the Garonne River embankment, and the Cité de l'Espace area on flat pink-brick boulevards. October's mild Toulousain autumn makes it the largest marathon in France's aerospace capital.

Next race: Sunday, 1 November 2026

ReimsGrand EstFrance

Reims Marathon

The Reims Marathon draws approximately 3,000 finishers each October through the Champagne capital where French kings were crowned. The course passes the Notre-Dame de Reims cathedral, the champagne-house avenues, and the Vesle River on flat Champagne-Ardenne terrain. October's golden autumn in the vineyards makes it one of France's most regal regional marathons.

Next race: Sunday, 25 October 2026

SaumurPays de la LoireFrance

Saumur Marathon de la Loire

The Saumur Marathon de la Loire follows the Loire Valley through the famous wine town of Saumur, drawing about 3,000 runners each May. The course passes the Château de Saumur, the Loire River, and the troglodyte cliff dwellings of the valley. May spring weather in the 'Garden of France' creates a scenic château-country marathon.

Next race: Sunday, 9 May 2027

Saint-NazairePays de la LoireFrance

Marathon de la Côte d'Amour

The Marathon de la Côte d'Amour runs along the Atlantic coast of Saint-Nazaire and the Loire estuary, drawing about 2,800 finishers each November. The course follows the 'Love Coast' beaches and passes the Saint-Nazaire shipyards and seaside resorts of western France. November Atlantic weather and coastal rolling terrain characterise this Breton-Loire marathon.

Next race: Sunday, 22 November 2026

Cap-FerretNouvelle-AquitaineFrance

Marathon des Villages

The Marathon des Villages draws approximately 2,720 finishers each October on a coastal village road in Cap-Ferret, France. The village-to-village coastal feel is unlike larger French city marathons. The route passes oyster villages, pine forests, and roads around the Bassin d'Arcachon. Rolling terrain with moderate climbs totals roughly 300 metres of gain and loss.

Next race: Sunday, 18 October 2026

GrenobleAuvergne-Rhône-AlpesFrance

Grenoble Marathon

The Grenoble Marathon draws approximately 2,500 finishers each April through the Alpine capital at the confluence of the Isère and Drac rivers. The course passes the Bastille fortress cable-car, the Paul Mistral park, and the Olympic legacy venues from the 1968 Winter Games. April's alpine spring and flat valley-floor terrain make it one of France's most mountain-framed city marathons.

Next race: Sunday, 25 April 2027

CaenNormandyFrance

Marathon de Caen

The Marathon de Caen draws approximately 2,500 finishers each May through the Norman capital rebuilt after D-Day. The course passes the Caen Memorial, the Château de Caen, and the Orne River on flat Calvados terrain. May's Normandy spring and the city's powerful WWII heritage make it one of northern France's most meaningful regional marathons.

Next race: Sunday, 23 May 2027

DeauvilleNormandyFrance

Marathon de Deauville

The Marathon de Deauville runs through Normandy's glamorous seaside resort and the Pays d'Auge countryside, drawing about 2,500 finishers each November. The course passes the Deauville boardwalk, Les Planches beach promenade, and the Norman half-timbered villages. November brisk sea air and coastal flatness define this chic Normandy marathon.

Next race: Sunday, 15 November 2026

PoitiersNouvelle-AquitaineFrance

Marathon Poitiers

The Marathon Poitiers runs through the historic university city of Poitiers in western France, drawing about 2,500 finishers each October. The course passes the Romanesque Notre-Dame la Grande church, the Futuroscope area, and the Clain River valley. October mild weather and flat Poitou terrain make it a relaxed regional marathon.

Next race: Sunday, 16 May 2027

MontpellierOccitanieFrance

Montpellier Marathon

The Montpellier Marathon attracts approximately 2,500 finishers each April through the vibrant university city on France's Mediterranean coast. The course passes the Place de la Comédie, the Antigone district, and the Lez River parklands on flat Languedoc terrain. April's Mediterranean spring and the youthful student-city energy make it southern France's most dynamic marathon.

Next race: Sunday, 25 April 2027

LyonAuvergne-Rhône-AlpesFrance

Lyon Marathon

The Lyon Marathon draws approximately 2,000 finishers on an urban road in Lyon, France. The course starts and finishes at Place Bellecour. The route crosses the Rhône and Saône rivers, passing Vieux Lyon and the Confluence district. Mostly flat with short bridge climbs.

Next race: Sunday, 3 October 2027

NiceProvence-Alpes-Côte d'AzurFrance

Nice Marathon

The Nice Marathon draws approximately 2,000 finishers on a scenic coastal road in Nice, France. The course starts in Nice and finishes in Cannes — point-to-point along the French Riviera. Mostly flat with gentle undulations.

Next race: Sunday, 8 November 2026

BiarritzNouvelle-AquitaineFrance

Marathon Biarritz Pays Basque

The Marathon Biarritz Pays Basque draws approximately 1,800 finishers each May on a scenic coastal road in Biarritz, France. It is one of France's most scenic seaside marathons thanks to the rugged Atlantic backdrop. The route passes ocean cliffs, beach boulevards, and roads linking several Basque-coast towns. Rolling terrain with moderate climbs shapes the middle miles.

Next race: Sunday, 2 May 2027

ToursCentre-Val de LoireFrance

Marathon de Tours

The Marathon de Tours draws approximately 1,800 finishers each September on an urban road in Tours, France. It offers classic French city scenery without the scale of Paris or Bordeaux. The route passes Loire-side roads, historic center streets, and elegant avenues in the Loire Valley city. Gentle undulations are the only breaks on an otherwise flat profile.

Next race: Sunday, 5 September 2027

Sainte-MaximeProvence-Alpes-Côte d'AzurFrance

Marathon du Golfe de Saint-Tropez

The Marathon du Golfe de Saint-Tropez draws approximately 1,800 finishers each March on a scenic coastal road in Sainte-Maxime, France. It links several Riviera towns in one point-to-point marathon and is organized collectively by the twelve communes of the gulf. The route passes Mediterranean shoreline roads, vineyard-backed hills, and multiple resorts around the Golfe de Saint-Tropez. Rolling terrain with moderate climbs shapes the middle miles.

Next race: Sunday, 7 March 2027